Designer showrooms aren’t only about picking out clothes, but experiencing the signature and aesthetic of a brand. Amongst our favorites is Acne’s Paris showroom. The day we stopped by, we found an exotic palette that extended far beyond the racks of minimalist clothes, in earthy tones inspired by Jonny Johansson's trip to Marrakesh.

Much of that inspired atmosphere is orchestrated by Mangus Carlsson, who is responsible for creating and shaping the label’s showroom each season. Basing his inspirations around Acne’s current collection, he fills the space with exotic floral arrangements and sculptures. Mangus is also the label’s resident chef, creating delectable treats for us to munch on during our visit. These include a selection of homemade biscuits and incredible mint water with bamboo straws.

We took time out to interview the amazing, talented, cool Mangus about his inspirations and favorite spots to visit in his native Stockholm.

Did you always have an interest in food and fashion?

During the 90’s I was a buyer for a store in Stockholm called Nitty Gritty, and they had a café. It was there that I started thinking about how to combine flowers, food and fashion together. I’ve always been interested in creating a multi-sensory experience.

What are some of your early inspirations?

I’ve always had this love of nature, especially that of the southern part of Sweden, where my grand parents lived. They used to grow and make everything from scratch and I learnt many things during my visits. It was also there that I cultivated a taste for fresh flavors, root vegetables and earthy colors. I could travel all over the world, but I always come back to that particular place.

What was the inspiration of this season’s Acne showroom?

I will usually sit down with Acne’ founder, Jonny Johansson, discuss the collection’s theme, and then base my concept off of it. For the flower arrangements I not only looked at the rich colors in the collection, but also the textures. I selected plants with velvety textures and others that reminded me of coral reefs.

What are your favorite places to visit in Stockholm?

Bondens egen Marknad is Stockholm’s farmers market, and you can find amazing organic flowers and vegetables that come from nearby farms.

Take a boat and visit Stockholm’s lush archipelagos where the islands are richly forested and lined with summer villas from the 1800’s. More recently traditional fishing huts, summerhouses and old post offices have been transformed into restaurants, galleries and shops.

Johan & Nyström supplies coffee beans all over Sweden, and they offer up a wonderful specialty coffee experience at their ‘concept store’ in Stockholm.